Page 19 of Come Apart
Ryan doesn't look up from his computer.
Maybe he thinks it's a power move or some other bullshit.
"Several new clients requested you. I put the consults on your calendar."
"I have a full calendar." And taking on new clients will make it harder to get out of this firm.
Ryan moves his gaze from his laptop to me. "They specifically requested you. You do have a certain reputation."
I offer him my bestI don't give a damn what you thinksmile. "I'd rather focus on making the clients I have happy."
"It's perfectly good business. You need a better reason than that to turn it away."
He holds my eyes.
It's a business stare, cold and emotionless. And so very Ryan.
He never gives anything away.
He never even raises his voice.
"If we dissolve the firm, you can take on all the clients you want," I point out.
"Out of the question," he responds immediately. "We have a reputation, and I do all the work to maintain it. Seventy percent of our billable hours if you want an exact figure."
Asshole.
But I swear, if I look closely, I can almost see a sign of weakness.
I can almost see some little hint of how much it hurt him to lose Alyssa.
So I offer him a smile, a real smile this time. "When we decided to start this business, we agreed we'd work reasonable hours."
He narrows his eyes, his brow furrowing.
I'm sure Ryan regrets asking me to start Lawrence and Knight. I know I regret getting into business with him.
But it made sense at the time. He was the only competent person I knew who wanted to specialize in divorces and he was willing to actually run the firm so I could devote my attention to actually practicing law.
He doesn't know what to say to my parry, so he deflects.
Typical.
"You need to start pulling your own weight." It's as calm as it could possibly be. He flips through a file on his desk. "Starting with your latest client, Mrs. Pike. She can't afford the kind of aggressive negotiation you outlined, and there's no way she's going to get full custody. Convince her to take a more reasonable offer."
I fold my arms. "No."
Ryan looks at me with pity, like I'm an idiot for being so idealistic. "I appreciate that you can sell the hot, hopeless-romantic divorce lawyer. It attracts clients. Hell, it's your best asset. But you need to be reasonable. She'll never get full custody. And her daughter is a teenager. Any sane judge will let the daughter decide. You're only wasting her money and getting her hopes up for nothing."
I grit my teeth.
I can't lose it.
Not when he's so damn controlled.
"I will continue to run my cases my way. If you'd like to run things a different way, we can dissolve the firm." "That's out of the question."
"Then so is me taking on these new clients."
